As Zhen Shicheng investigated the situation, servants from all three households had already returned to their respective mansions to report the incident.
When the households of the Vice Minister of Rites and Marquis Taiping heard their children had been beaten by Zhen Shicheng’s subordinate, they immediately rushed to the Shunyi Prefecture Office to demand an explanation.
At Earl Dongping’s mansion, Old Madam Feng and others had received news from the elderly coachman.
Upon hearing that Jiang Zhan had offended Cui Yi and the others, even dragging Jiang Si into the matter, Old Madam Feng’s face darkened instantly. She reproached Jiang Ancheng, “I told you earlier that Zhan was out of line, but you insisted on protecting him. Now look what’s happened—Si’er, a young lady—”
“Mother, I’m going to find Si’er and the others!” Before Old Madam Feng could finish her reprimand, Jiang Ancheng left with these words.
Old Madam Feng nearly choked on her breath, clutching her chest as she panted heavily.
Like father, like children—her eldest son was completely improper, spoiling both his children until they only knew how to cause trouble. If this continued, they would eventually bring complete shame to the Earl’s household.
Jiang Zhan was bad enough, but when Jiang Si returned this time, she would need proper discipline, regardless of her father’s protection. With Jiang Si’s mother gone, it was only right for her grandmother to guide her granddaughter.
Among all the families involved, General Cui remained the most composed, merely sending his steward to fetch people from the medical hall.
Instead, it was General Cui’s daughter, Cui Mingyue, who couldn’t accept this. She angrily protested, “Father, didn’t you hear clearly? Brother’s leg was broken—how can we let others bully him like this?”
General Cui gave his daughter a bland look: “Your brother bullies others far more often.”
“But how can others compare to brother?” Cui Mingyue grew increasingly dissatisfied with her father’s attitude. “If Mother were here, she would surely stand up for brother!”
At his daughter’s mention of Princess Rongyang, General Cui’s expression cooled, his attitude becoming even more distant: “Your brother’s reckless behavior is the result of your mother’s spoiling.”
Cui Mingyue wasn’t surprised by her father’s cold attitude toward her mother.
General Cui and Princess Rongyang had been emotionally estranged for years. As far back as Cui Mingyue could remember, her parents had been distant, rarely even meeting.
Her father lived in the General’s mansion while her mother resided primarily in the Princess’s palace.
Thinking of this, Cui Mingyue grew more frustrated and declared defiantly, “If Father won’t help brother, then I will!”
The eldest Miss Cui stormed off, not to the Shunyi Prefecture Office, but to the palace to complain to the Empress Dowager.
Princess Rongyang was Emperor Jingming’s sister, though not from the same mother. After their mother’s death, she had been raised by the then-Empress, as was Emperor Jingming himself. This made Princess Rongyang the most prestigious among all the princesses.
The Empress Dowager doted on Princess Rongyang and, by extension, was very fond of Cui Mingyue.
Cui Mingyue entered the palace with practiced ease and was granted an audience with the Empress Dowager without much delay.
Those favored by palace nobles always enjoyed such privileges.
The Empress Dowager appeared to be a kindly old woman with gentle features. Upon seeing Cui Mingyue, she smiled warmly and asked, “Has Yue’er come to visit this old one?”
“Yue’er always thinks of Grandmother,” Cui Mingyue replied sweetly, entertaining the Empress Dowager with pleasant conversation for a while before suddenly blinking tears into her eyes.
The Empress Dowager quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Your Highness doesn’t know, but my brother nearly drowned last night.” Cui Mingyue carefully selected what to tell, finally describing Cui Yi’s current miserable state. “Even a mere yamen runner dares to treat my brother this way, and I hear the Prefect of Shunyi always protects his subordinates. They’re taking advantage of my mother’s absence from the capital to bully us. Empress Dowager, please help my brother seek justice.”
The Empress Dowager’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing this: “Yi’er’s leg is broken, and your father hasn’t even visited the medical hall or personally brought him home?”
She was well aware of the bitter marriage between Princess Rongyang and General Cui Xu.
Years ago, Cui Xu and Lady Su of the Marquis Yining household had been childhood sweethearts. Princess Rongyang had taken a fancy to Cui Xu and, using her status, ultimately separated the couple.
However, forced affection bore no sweetness. The relationship between Princess Rongyang and Cui Xu remained lukewarm, and after Lady Su’s death, Cui Xu grew even more distant from Princess Rongyang.
Although the Empress Dowager knew the history, her sympathies naturally lay with her adopted daughter, and she often criticized General Cui.
Cui Mingyue wiped her tears: “Father has always been uninvolved in my brother’s and my affairs. I can’t just watch my brother suffer such humiliation without anyone helping, so I had to come to you for justice.”
“Don’t worry, Yue’er. I will look into this.”
“Thank you, Empress Dowager.” Cui Mingyue smiled through her tears.
The Empress Dowager was known for swift action and quickly sent word to Emperor Jingming.
The Minister of Rites hadn’t attended court that day, and Emperor Jingming had already heard about the incident involving the Minister’s grandson. Now learning from the Empress Dowager about the other three young men’s troubles, he felt rather philosophical.
It seemed other people’s sons were equally troublesome—well, this made him feel better about his situation.
“Your Majesty, this old one doesn’t interfere in court matters, but Cui Yi is Rongyang’s only son, and Yang Shengcai is the Crown Princess’s brother. The Prefect of Shunyi should be warned—we can’t leave the victims feeling wronged.”
Although the Empress Dowager wasn’t Emperor Jingming’s birth mother, she had raised him, and his ascension to the throne was partly due to her status at the time. Thus, Emperor Jingming always showed her great respect.
Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, he naturally had to give face.
Emperor Jingming considered for a moment and decided that, since he had nothing pressing to attend to, he might as well have Zhen Shicheng bring everyone to the palace. He could personally inquire about the situation, showing imperial concern for his subjects.
The Shunyi Prefecture Office was extremely lively at this time. As Zhen Shicheng listened to everyone’s accusations, he stroked his beard in frustration while casting sidelong glances at Yu Jin, who appeared completely unbothered.
He never expected Prince Yan to be such a person—a prince participating in a group fight!
Just as he was contemplating whether to cover up Yu Jin’s identity or simply wash his hands of the matter, palace messengers arrived.
Zhen Shicheng immediately felt relieved.
Let His Majesty worry about everything.
Fully embracing the spirit of self-preservation, Zhen Shicheng brought all the troublemakers to the palace, except for the Jiang siblings who were still at the medical hall, and Cui Yi with his broken leg.
Emperor Jingming was known as a patient ruler. He listened carefully as the two families described Zhen Shicheng’s subordinate as an incredibly arrogant and vicious thug, before finally asking leisurely, “Minister Zhen, is your subordinate truly so bold? How did you handle this matter?”
Zhen Shicheng calmly bowed: “Your Majesty, I believe one shouldn’t judge based on one side’s story alone, so I’ve brought the involved subordinate as well.”
“Oh? Let him come forward.”
Yu Jin, who had been pushed to the back of the crowd, heard the command and made his way forward through the people blocking his path. He announced clearly: “Your son greets Father Emperor.”
Father Emperor?
The Vice Minister of Rites and Marquis Taiping couldn’t help but clean their ears, thinking they had misheard.
What did this person just call the Emperor? Father Emperor?
It seemed this little yamen runner had been so frightened by offending their three families that he’d lost his mind. Now he was speaking nonsense before the Emperor—he would surely be charged with grave disrespect, and losing his head would be getting off lightly.
Emperor Jingming stared at Yu Jin for a long while before saying neutrally, “Seventh, you’ve been fighting again?”